An Open Letter to President Salva Kiir

By Wani Michael

Dear President Kiir, I woke up this morning thinking about you as the Head of State and Government. Commander-in-Chief of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), Chairperson of the High-Level Taskforce [HLTF] on Covid-19, a husband, a father and a grandfather.

 I also woke up thinking about the pandemic known as Covid-19 and your government’s response in fighting this virus. I hope my message will find its way to you and I would appreciate if you can find time to read and know the concerns of your citizens.

Row between health officials and the Taskforce on Covid-19

It has come to our notice through the media that there is a total disconnect between the taskforce and health ministry technical staff. Ideally, the taskforce which consist of mainly politicians should listen carefully and follow the suggestions and recommendations of doctors or experts.

In most cases, we have seen and witnessed politics leading us in this fight against Coronavirus than science should. As citizens, we’ve also seen and witnessed growing frustrations of our medical practitioners. Some of them even warned us of looming disaster because of some of the wrong decisions taken by the Presidency and the taskforce sometimes because they undermine doctors’ pieces of advice derived from scientific theories.

I was hoping that during your Presidency meetings at J1, you would’ve allow the Technical team to extensively briefed you on the current situations on Covid-19 and the different scenarios or options available for you, of course with their pros and cons. This should’ve happened before any decision is taken but it seems the real technical people do not attend the meetings. That was probably why we saw an official communication from your office last week easing the restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Coronavirus across the country.

It is my appeal Mr. President that you organize a meeting with medical doctors and listen to their say. Listen to the scientific views on those up surging Covid-19 figures in the country let they health experts do their professional jobs by giving us the projections and what options are available for South Sudan to contain the Coronavirus pandemic disease.

As committed medical workers in these difficult times, they also need motivation and protection from the government. Protection of medical workers at the frontline fighting Covid-19 should be the government’s top priority. I thank you Mr. President and hope that my message gets to you. God bless you! God bless South Sudan! For Justice, Liberty and Prosperity.